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Is This Jaeger LeCoultre Considered A High-end Watch?

gatorcpa
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Time Exposure Time Exposure
I have always (30 years of collecting) considered LeCoultre the finest of the no-frills/17 jewel unadjusted movements. Definitely top 10 in the day (when the Futurematic was made), even higher/better today.
Agreed, but this is not a no-frills movement. I believe it is one of the first (if not the first) watch to have a power reserve meter. This was back in 1951. The hack lever on this watch is also somewhat unique. It actually touches the balance wheel to stop it.

Don't forget about the pop-up pin and hook mechanism to catch the rotor when the movement is fully wound. Also, when the mainspring unwinds, there is another mechanism that saves a couple of hours of power to start the watch running when it is picked up. The idea here is to be able to set the time and strap it on without having to stop and bounce the rotor around to get it going. This feature works perfectly on my Porthole version.

The Futurematic has always reminded me of the old Mazda Rx3 Cosmo, with the rotary engine. Pretty plain on the outside, but everything under the hood is done totally different than in a conventional car.
gatorcpa
 
rolokr
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Futuematics run very well, the movement was very inovative in its day. It is a very complicated mechanism, never overwinds or run down completely. Should be considered complicated ? Awesome watch !
 
Archer
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
The hack lever on this watch is also somewhat unique. It actually touches the balance wheel to stop it.
gatorcpa

Most hacking mechanisms use the principle of stopping the movement by the lever touching the balance wheel. It's actually much more uncommon (almost rare) to have one that doesn't do it this way, so stopping the movement by having the lever touch a train wheel or something.

And yes you are right this was the first movement to have a power reserve indicator, and it was quite advanced for it's time.

Cheers, Al
 
gatorcpa
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The PowerMatic is a much simpler watch than the Futurematic. A more conventional bumper movement with the reserve feature. Both are very nice.

However, since it was available a few years earlier than the Futurematic, it was the first automatic wristwatch with a power reserve feature. So I stand corrected there.

There were many models of military and nautical pocket watches with the "up-down" dial, which really is a power reserve meter. But none were automatics, to my knowledge.

gatorcpa
 
goodcall
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
The PowerMatic is a much simpler watch than the Futurematic. A more conventional bumper movement with the reserve feature. Both are very nice.

However, since it was available a few years earlier than the Futurematic, it was the first automatic wristwatch with a power reserve feature. So I stand corrected there.

There were many models of military and nautical pocket watches with the "up-down" dial, which really is a power reserve meter. But none were automatics, to my knowledge.

gatorcpa
"The PowerMatic is a much simpler watch than the Futurematic"-I think you right and won't argue with that but it's interesting why in 1960(see the add) both watches prized at $90.00 ?
 
gatorcpa
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goodcall goodcall
I think you right and won't argue with that but it's interesting why in 1960(see the add) both watches prized at $90.00 ?
Because JLC lost money on every Futurematic sold. See the letter from James Dowling at the end of this page:

http://community.fortunecity.ws/marina/breakwater/13/future.html

The letter is heresay at best, but it makes sense to me.

Think about the Corvette, do you really think GM makes money on a low volume car that loaded with advanced technology at $60K? Highly doubt it. But they do get experience in producing high-tech gadgets that will pay huge dividends if it is decided to push those innovations down to other vehicles later on.

Unfortunately for JLC, many of the features tried on the Futurematic never were replicated on other models. It was a sales success and a financial failure.

gatorcpa
 
R
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Agreed, but this is not a no-frills movement. I believe it is one of the first (if not the first) watch to have a power reserve meter. This was back in 1951. The hack lever on this watch is also somewhat unique. It actually touches the balance wheel to stop it.

Don't forget about the pop-up pin and hook mechanism to catch the rotor when the movement is fully wound. Also, when the mainspring unwinds, there is another mechanism that saves a couple of hours of power to start the watch running when it is picked up. The idea here is to be able to set the time and strap it on without having to stop and bounce the rotor around to get it going. This feature works perfectly on my Porthole version.

The Futurematic has always reminded me of the old Mazda Rx3 Cosmo, with the rotary engine. Pretty plain on the outside, but everything under the hood is done totally different than in a conventional car.
gatorcpa
precious
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kennethcooke
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I am passionate about JLC watches, and yes I would consider them to be right up there, maybe not as high as Patek but close. Wonderful company with a fine tradition and maybe more in house movements than any other maker in the industry. I have had a Reverso Grand Taille which I upgraded to a Reverso Duo Time. I recently considered one of the limited edition Memovox but finally settled on the watch on my avatar
 
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CanberraOmega
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I'm enjoying JLCs more and more (not that I have any yet), but I have started looking for a Futurematic and a Memovox, if anyone is thinking of parting with theirs.....
 
UncleBuck
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CanberraOmega CanberraOmega
I'm enjoying JLCs more and more (not that I have any yet), but I have started looking for a Futurematic and a Memovox, if anyone is thinking of parting with theirs.....
I'm with you, Daniel!
As I amass wealth in the coming years (still entertaining various business plans, mainly scratch-off),
this is the most interesting avenue that I have crossed so far.
 
U
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UncleBuck UncleBuck
(still entertaining various business plans, mainly scratch-off)

I like your idea - a sort of instant retirement plan.
 
kennethcooke
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rolokr rolokr
Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematic Stainless Steel is a high end watch ?
In answer to your question, Is JLC a hight end watch? I would say, most definitely yes, but I am biased, my other watch is a JLC Reverso Duo Time
 
DTMwatch
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I agree that JLC is high end: in-house movements and a long history of making complicated and innovative watch movements. This topic is debated on another forum and the consensus there is JLC is high end.
 
hugo
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DTMwatch DTMwatch
I agree that JLC is high end: in-house movements and a long history of making complicated and innovative watch movements. This topic is debated on another forum and the consensus there is JLC is high end.

definitely agree on this post
 
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